Musical instrument



Filed Nov. 20, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. '26, 1932. L. LEVGOVD MUSICAL mswnumnm Filed Nov. 20, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i, w M} F JIM Jan. 26, 1932. 1.; LEVGOVD MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 20, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 5 L Lev/ ava! Patented Jan. 26, 1932 LADISLAS LEVGOVI), OF WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed November 20, 1930. Serial No. 497,041.

The present invention relates to musical instruments or the like and more particularly to a means for combining in one device a plurality of musical instruments which may be readily operated or actuated by one person through the use of a foot or both feet.

An object of this invention is to provide a casing within which are mounted a number of musical instruments which are adapted to be sounded or actuated by means of foot pedals or the like extending outwardly of the casing.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide in a device of this kind means for permitting the sound from within the casing to pass outwardly thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel pedal members which are so mounted as to be gravitatingly swung into inoperative position so as to eliminate the use of springs or the like for returning the members into inoperative position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a relatively small casing which may be readily transported from point to point, the casing containing a number of selected instruments which may be actuated or sounded through foot pedals extending outwardly of the casing.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view partly in detail looking downwardly through an instrument constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section partly in detail taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section partly in detail looking inwardly from one side of the as device;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view partly in detail showing the operating members for the no instruments, and

Figure 6' is a fragmentary detail rear elevation showing the pedal members.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1O designates generally a casing constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention, the casing 10 being of relatively large size and of rectangular box-like construction and having a removable front 11 and a removable rear wall 12, the front and rear wall members having overlapping fianges 13 which extend inwardly from the outer edge portions of the inner or body 14 of the casing 10. The sides of the casing 10 may be constructed of any desired material such as wood or metal and where constructed of wood the corners are pro vided with L-shaped corner members 15 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the sides and top and bottom walls so as to provide a relatively rigid casing. The end mem bers 11 and 12 are bolted or otherwise secured to the body portion 14. The front and rear members 11 and 12, respectively, are adapted to be held against removal by means of plate members 15 which are secured to the inner member 14 and bolted or otherwise secured to the flanges of the outer and inner members 11 and 1.2, respectively, so as to prevent undue Vibration of these members one with respect to the other and at the same time to permit the sound from within the casing to pass outwardly therethrough through sound holes hereinafter described.

The outer end member 11 is provided with a plurality of apertures 16 which are spacedly mounted in the face of the outer member 11 and extend downwardly from the upper end thereof. These apertures 16 are relatively small in size and are so positioned as to permit the sound or vibrations from within the casing to pass outwardly thereof.

The top 17 of the inner member 14 is also provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 18 which cooperate with the apertures 16 so as to permit the sound or Vibrations from within the casing 10 to pass outwardly thereof. The number of apertures 16 and 18 in the casing 10 are such as to control the degree 12 by means of bolts or of sound passing outwardly through the walls of the casing 10 and these apertures 16 and 18 may be increased in size and number depending only upon the degree of sound which it is desired to permit to pass outwardly through the casing. Preferably the apertures 16 and 18 permit the sound waves to freely pass out of the casing but the sound waves may be modulated or muflled by covering up the apertures 16 and 18 with a cover in the form of a cloth of desired texture.

The inner end member 12 is provided with a pair of diagonally disposed bars 19 which are secured to the inner face of the inner end the like and each of the bars or braces 19 is provided with a pair of inwardly extending supporting pins 21 which are secured to the braces 19 at a point spaced inwardly from each end thereof.

A bass drum 22 of conventional construction is adapted to engage the supporting pins 21 which pins 21 hold the drum 22 concentrically with respect to the intersecting point of the braces 19. A turnbuckle or adjustable bolt member 23 is secured at one end to the brace members 19 adjacent each end thereof and outwardly of the periphery of the drum 22, one end of the bolt member 23 being provided with a hook 24 which engages the opposite rim of the drum 22 so as to hold the drum 22 in adjusted position on the rear end 12 of the casing.

A clapper or drum beater generally designated as 25 is rockably supported within the casing 10 and is adapted to strike the inner face of the drum 22 for sounding thereof. The clapper 25 comprises a rod 26 which is curved, as at 27, and provided at one end with aloop 28 which is secured to a rockable shaft 29 by means of a 'T-clamp 30 which extends through the shaft 29. The free end of the clapper 25 is provided with a beater member 31 of conventional construction. The rockable operating shaft 29 comprises an inner member 32 which may be constructed of wood or the like and a pair of outwardly eX- tending tubular members 33 constituting shafts are mounted in the body portion The casing 10 is provided with a pair of inwardly extending trunnions 35 which are secured one on each side of the casing and extend inwardly thereof in alinement with each other and a sleeve 36 is loosely positioned about the trunnions 35 and extend inwardly and over the outer ends of the shafts 33 so as to hold the shaft 33 in alinement with the trunnions 35. A stop member 37 extends through tie shaft 33 and limits the longitudinal movement of the sleeves 36 on the trunnions 35 and the shaft 33.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the operating shaft or rockable member 29 is removably secured to the walls of the casing 10. The trunnions 35 are provide-d at the outer ends thereof with a laterally extending flange or plate 34 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the walls 14 of the casing 10. A pair of tubular members 38 are mounted at the inner ends thereof in the rock shaft 29 and extend laterally thereof toward the rear or end member 12, the rear end of the tubular members 38 extending to a point substantially flush with the outer face of the end member 12, the end member 12 being provided with an elongated slot 39 so as to permit vertical rocking movement of the tubular members 38.

The inner ends of the tubular members 38 are secured to the rock shaft 29 by means of cotter pins 40 or the like. These tubular members 38 are secured to the rock shaft 29 in spaced relation to each other and a U- shaped pedal member 41 is adapted at the free ends thereof to engage the tubular members 38, the looped portion of the pedal member 41 extending outwardly of the rear end 12 and provided with a sleeve 42 for engagement by the foot of the operator. if desired, the pedal member 41 may be constructed in two parts which are held together by the sleeve 42. The cotter pins 40 also serve to limit the insertion of the inner ends of the pedal 41 in the tubular member 38. The rod 26 extends inwardly from the rock shaft 29 to a point where the head 31 thereof together with the weight of the rod 26 will be swung downwardly by gravity, the downward movement of the clapper 25 coactively raising the pedal 41. From this, it will be obvious that the pedal 41 will be normally raised and the cl apper 25 normally positioned in inoperative position or in spaced relation to the head of the drum 22.

A gong member 43 is mounted on the front end 11 by means of a mounting 44 which engages a vertically disposed brace or support I 45 secured to the inner face of the front end member 11. A gong beater or clapper generally designated as 46 is rockably mounted in the casing 10 and is adapted for engagement with the gong 43 for sounding thereof. The beater 46 comprises a bar 47 which is rockably mounted on a support 48. the bar 47 being preferably flat and mounted on edge.

The bar is twisted laterally or at substan tially right angles, as at 49, and the upper end of the free or inner end of the beater 46 is provided with a paddle 50 which is constructed of a single piece of resilient wire or rod which is looped at the upper end thereof and the free ends of the paddle 50 engage against the inner portion of the bar 47 an d are secured thereto by means of a pair of U- shaped bolts 51. The support 48 comprises a base 52 and a pair of upstanding ears 53 which engage on the opposite sides of the bar 47 and a pivotal bolt or member 54 extends through the ears 53 and the bar 47 so as to rockably mount the clapper 46 on the bottom of the casing 10, the support 48 being bolted by means of bolts 55 or the like to the inner face of the bottom of the casing 10.

A pedal member 56 which is provided with a bifurcated inner end portion 57 is adapted to engage the outer end of the rockable member 47, the pedal member 56 extending through a slot 58 in the rear or end member 12. The end member 12 is provided on the Y opposite sides of the slot 58 with a pair of inwardly extending spaced guide members 59 against which the pedal member 56 is adapted to slidably engage these guide members 59 preventing side movement of the pedal 56 and the outer end of the rockable bar 47. The rocking movement of the clapper 46 is rearwardly and the point of balance or fulcrum is such as to gravitatingly swing the clapper 46 away from the gong 43 when the pedal 56 has been released by the foot.

A bell member 60 is mounted on a vertically disposed reinforcing member 6?. which is secured to the inner face of the front end member 11, the bell being mounted on the brace or reinforcing member 61 by means of a mounting 62. The brace 61 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the inner face of the end member 11. A second clapper or beater generally designated as 63 is rockably mounted on the bottom of the casing 10, the beater 63 comprising a bar 64 of flat construction which is rockably mounted on a support 65 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the casing 10, the-support 65 com prising a base 66 and a pair of upstanding cars 67 through which a pivotal bolt 68 e: tends, the bolt 68 engaging the bar 64 so as to rockably mount the bar 64 on the bottom of the. casing 10. One end of the bar 64 is twisted, as at 69, and is bent upwardly and a paddle 70 is secured to the upper end of the bar 64 by means of U-shaped bolts 71 or the like. The paddle 7 O is of a construction similar to the paddle 50, being of looped wire construction the free ends of which are engaged by the U-shaped bolts 71. The opposite end of the bar 64 extends rearwardly of the cueing 10 and a pedal 72 which is provided with a bifurcated inner end portion is adapted to removably engage the inner end of the bar 64.

A pair of spaced guide members 73 are secured to the rear end 12 and extend. inwardly in substantially parallel relation to the bar 64 and the inner end of the pedal membe 72 slidably engages the opposing faces of the guide members 73 so as to prevent side move ment or twisting thereof. A plate 74 is se cured to the side wall 75 of the casing 10, being held in depending relation with the lower end thereof free by means of a support 76 which is secured to the inner face of the side wall 75.

The plate 74 is constructed of metal and one edge thereof held against movement with respect to the Wall 75 by means of a holding member 77 in the form of a bolt or the like. A striker generally designated as 77 is rockably mounted on the bottom of the casing 10 the striker 77 comprising a round rod 78 which extends at one end thereof in substantially parallel relation to the bottom of the casing 10 and is rockably supported by a bearing member 79 secured to the bottom of the casing 10. One end of the rod 78 is bent at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lower end portion 78, as at 80, and this bent portion 80 is then bent arcuately and upwardly so that the inner or free end will be positioned in spaced relation to the plate 74 and in over-balanced relation so that when the rod 78 is rocked so as to move the striker 77 outwardly into engagement with the plate 74, the striker 77 upon release thereof will 'ravitatingly swing inwardly. The free end of the striker 77 is provided with a head portion 81 for engagement with the surface of the plate 74. The opposite end of the striker 77 is threaded so as to threadably receive an extension 82 which is locked onto the opposite end of the striker 77 by means of a lock nut 83 or the like. The outer end of the extension 82 extends outwardly through the rear wall 12 and an L-shaped pedal member 84 is removably mounted in an axially disposed opening 85. The free end of the pedal member 84 e2:- tends outwardly toward the outer edge of the casing 10.

On the opposite wall 86 of the casing 10 there is mounted Malay gong 87 by means of a mounting 88 and a striker 89 which is constructed similarly to the striker 77 is rockably mounted on the bottom of the casing 10 and adapted to engage the gong 87. The lower end of the striker 89 is rockably mounted in a bearing 90. The inner end of the striker 89 is threaded and provided with an extension 91 which threadably engages the striker 89 and is locked thereon by means of lock nut 92.

An L-shaped pedal member 93 is mounted in a recess 94 on the inner end of the extension 91. This striker 89 is over-balanced in the same manner as the striker 77 so that it is normally positioned out of engagement with the gong 87 and when the pedal 93 has been released after the head 96 has struck the gong 87, the weight of the striker 89 will automatically swing the striker inwardly into inoperative position. The bottom of the casing 10 is provided with a plurality of feet or supporting members 97 so as to hold the casing 10 off of the floor or the like and so as to permit the walls of the casing 10 to vibrate simultaneously with the vibration of the instruments positioned therein. In the operation of this device, the casing 10 may be positioned on the floor or other supporting structure convenient to the operator thereof and the desired pedals may be depressed so downwardly, thereby swinging the striker 2-3 rearwardly so to cause the head 31 thereof to strike the head of the drum 22. In like manner, the p dal 56 may be depressed so as to cause t is striker L6 to engage the gong 43. l v hcn the pedals 41 and have been rcleased, the weight of the inner end portion thereof in clu d ng the head will gravitatingly swing the s .lliElS out of en agement with the instriunent and cause the operating end of t 1e pedals to rise. Ehe oscillating shaft 29 may be construe ted of wood or other suitable like material and as shown in the drawings, the upper :2 face thereof provided with a recess or cut-out portion 95 for rethe looped end 28 of the striker 26. nice end or head of the clapper or heater is cons; acted of relatively soft material and is oval in construction having the flat face thereof positioned oppositely from the head of the drum so that when the head 31 is moved inwardly toward the head of the drum 22, the flattened head'3'l will create a draft of air so as to set the air in motion and facilitate the travel of the sound within the casing toward the exterior of the casing and c-iirough he holes 16 and 18.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. In combination, a device as described, comprising a casing, a musical instrument having a vertically disposed striking surface, means for mounting the instrument Within the casing, a striker adapted to engage said striking surface, means for rockably mounting the striker in the casing whereby the striker will gravitatingly swing into inoperative position, a pedal extending outwardly of the casing, and means for removably mounting the pedal on said rocking means.

2. In combination, a device as described, comprising a casing, a musical instrument having a vertically disposed striking surface, means for mounting the instrument on the interior of the casing and rocl-zable striker means for engaging said vertical striking surface, said striker means comprising a body portion, a striker secured to the body at one end thereof, a pedal secured to the other end of said body and extending outwardly of the casing, and means for rockably mounting said striker means in the casing whereby to gravitatingly maintain said striker means in inopeive position.

5. In combination, a device as described,

comprising a casing, a musical instrument mounted within the casing and having a vertically disposed striking surface, striker means for said instrument for engaging said striking surface, and means for rockably mounting said striker means within the easing, said casing having a plurality of sound wave outlet ports therethrough whereby to permit the sound waves created by said instruments to pass outwa 'dly of the casing.

4:. In combination, a device as described, comprising a casing, a musical instrument mounted within the casing and having a vertically disposed striking surface, striker means for said instrument for engaging said striking surface, means for rockably mounting said striker means in the casii'ig, operating means for said striker means, said op erating means extending outwardly through one wall of the casing whereby to permit manual operation thereof, said casing having a plurality of sound wave outlet ports therethrough, and supporting means secured to the casing whereby to support the casing in spaced relation to a supporting structure.

5. In combination, a casing, a musical instrument mounted within the casing, operating means for said instrument extending throu h said casing, said casing having a plurality of sound Wave ports therethrough whereby to permit the sound waves created by said instrument to pass outwardly of the casing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LADISLAS LEVGOVD. 

